INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
CASE OF GUTIÉRREZ SOLER V. COLOMBIA
JUDGMENT OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2005
In the case of Gutiérrez Soler,

the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Inter-American Court” or “the Court”), composed of the following judges :*

Sergio García Ramírez, President;
Alirio Abreu Burelli, Vice President;
Oliver Jackman, Judge;
Antônio A. Cançado Trindade, Judge;
Manuel E. Ventura Robles, Judge;
Diego García Sayán, Judge; and
Ernesto Rey Cantor, Judge ad hoc;
also present,**

Emilia Segares Rodríguez, Deputy Secretary,
pursuant to Articles 62(3) and 63(1) of the American Convention on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Convention” or “the American Convention”) and Articles 29, 31, 53(2), 55, 56, 57 and 58 of its Rules of Procedure (hereinafter “the Rules of Procedure”), delivers the following judgment.

I INTRODUCTION OF THE CASE

1. On March 26, 2004, pursuant to the provisions of Articles 50 and 61 of the American Convention, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter “the Commission” or “the Inter-American Commission”) filed before the Court an application against the Republic of Colombia (hereinafter “the State” or * Judge Cecilia Medina-Quiroga informed the Court that, for reasons beyond her control, she would be unable to be present at the deliberations and sign this judgment.

** The Secretary of the Court Pablo Saavedra-Alessandri informed the Court that, for reasons beyond his control, he would be unable to be present at the deliberations and sign this judgment. “Colombia”) originating in petition No. 12.291, received at the Secretariat of the Commission on November 5, 1997.

2. The Commission filed the application, for the Court to determine whether the State had violated the rights in Articles 5(1), 5(2) and 5(4) (Right to Humane
Treatment); 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 7(4), 7(5) and 7(6) (Right to Personal Liberty); 8(1), 8(2)(d), 8(2)(e), 8(2)(g) and 8(3) (Right to a Fair Trial); and 25 (Right to Judicial Protection) of the Convention, in relation to the obligation set forth in Article 1(1) (Obligation to Respect Rights) of said treaty, to the detriment of Wilson Gutiérrez- Soler. In the application, the Commission pointed out that “the [alleged] deprivation of personal liberty and inhumane treatment of Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler was perpetrated by a State agent and a private individual (a former State agent himself) who[,] with the sufferance of government officers[,] used the means available to the Public Force to arrest the [alleged] victim and to try and exact form him a confession using torture, for the alleged commission of a crime – in relation of which the domestic courts eventually found him innocent.” With respect to local action, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler “[allegedly] exhausted all domestic legal remedies in his pursuit of justice and relief;” nevertheless, his complaints were dismissed. To this respect, the Commission stated that “[t]he [alleged] impunity of the those responsible and the lack of reparation ten years after the facts, have not only destroyed Gutiérrez- Soler’s life project and that of his family, but have also adversely impacted on their safety and, in some cases, forced them into exile.”

3. Furthermore, the Commission asked the Inter-American Court to order the State, under Article 63(1) of the Convention, to take the measures of reparation
detailed in the application. Lastly, the Commission requested that the Order of the Court the State to pay the costs and expenses arising from the domestic legal
proceedings and from the proceedings under the Inter-American System.

II COMPETENCE

4. The Court has jurisdiction to hear the instant case pursuant to Article 62(3) of the Convention as Colombia has been a State Party to the American Convention
since July 31, 1973 and accepted the contentious jurisdiction of the Court on June 21, 1985.

III PROCEEDING BEFORE THE COMMISSION

5. On November 5, 1999, the Inter-American Commission received a petition filed by the Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (Lawyers’ Institutional Group “José Alvear Restrepo”) (hereinafter “the petitioners”), which was processed under number 12.291.

6. On November 14, 2001, during its 113th Session, the Commission adopted Admissibility Report No. 76/01, by which it concluded that it had “jurisdiction to
hear the petition filed by the petitioners for an alleged violation of Articles 5, 8 and 25, and Article 1(1) of the Convention,” and decided to “declare the admissibility of the instant case in relation to the alleged violation of Articles 5, 8, 25 and 1(1) of the American Convention.”

7. On May 29, 2003, the Inter-American Commission, at the petitioners´ request, adopted precautionary measures in favor of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, brother of the alleged victim, “who [would have] endured a series of threats and harassments, and an attempted bomb attack, allegedly aimed at silencing the complaints filed by his next of kin against certain individuals, including Government officers, [allegedly] associated with the commission of the acts of the instant case.”

8. On October 9, 2003 the Commission, according to Article 50 of the Convention, adopted Report No. 45/03, by which it concluded that: the Colombian State has violated Articles 5(1)(2) and (4), 7(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) and (6), 8(1), 8(2), 8(2)(d) and (e), 8(2)(g) and 8(3) and 25, in relation to Article 1(1) of the American Convention, to the detriment of Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, by reason of the tortures and the cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment inflicted on him while held in custody by the State and on account of the failure by the State to satisfy the requirements of due process of law and right to judicial protection while investigating the violations and prosecuting the responsible parties. The State is also responsible for failure to comply with its fair trial obligations in relation to the violations endured by the victim while held in custody and for failure to compensate the damage caused, including the right to justice. With respect to the above, the Commission recommended that the State should:

1. adopt such measures as may be necessary to investigate and prosecute the parties responsible for the violation of Article 5 of the American Convention, before the ordinary courts, including the measures needed to reopen precluded proceedings or reexamine cases decided by military justice, as allowed by Constitutional Court precedent;

2. adopt such measures as may be necessary for Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler to receive adequate reparation for the pecuniary and non pecuniary damages caused as a result of the violation of Articles 5, 8 and 25; [and]

3. adopt such measures as may be necessary to prevent the occurrence of renewed acts of the same nature.

9. On December 26, 2003, the Commission issued Report No. 45/03 granting the State two months to notify the Commission of the measures adopted in
compliance with the recommendations.

10. On January 23, 2004, the Commission, pursuant to Article 43(3) of the Rules of Procedure, notified the petitioners that it had adopted the report and submitted it to the State, and requested them to notify the Commission of their position regarding submission of the case to the Inter-American Court. The petitioners forwarded such information on February 26, 2004.

11. On March 17, 2004, after a time extension had been granted, the term for the State to submit the Report No. 45/03-related information became due, without
the State having forwarded any information on the matter.

12. On March 26, 2004, the Inter-American Commission decided to submit the instant case to the Court.

IV PROCEEDING BEFORE THE COURT

13. On March 26, 2004, the Commission filed an application with the Court regarding the instant case.

14. The Commission appointed officer Susana Villarán de la Puente and Executive Secretary Santiago A. Canton as delegates, and Ariel Dulitzky, Verónica Gómez, Norma Colledani and Lilly Ching as legal counsels.

15. On April 21, 2004, the Secretariat, once the application had been examined by the President of the Court (hereinafter “the President”), served the application
and its annexes on the State, and notified it of the term within which it was to answer the same and appoint its agents in the proceedings. Furthermore, the Secretariat, following instructions by the President, informed the State that it had the right to appoint an ad hoc Judge to participate in determining the case.

16. On that same day, in compliance with Article 35(1)(d) of the Rules of Procedure, the Secretariat served the application on the Centro por la Justicia y el
Derecho Internacional and on the Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (Lawyers’ Group “José Alvear Restrepo”) (hereinafter “the Representatives”),
appointed in the application as representatives of the alleged victim and his next of kin, and informed them that they had two months to file a brief with their requests, their arguments and their evidence.

17. On June 18, 2004, the State appointed Luz Marina Gil García and Luis Alfonso Novoa Díaz as agent and deputy agent, respectively, and Ernesto Rey
Cantor as ad hoc Judge to participate in hearing the case.

18. On June 28, 2004, the Representatives filed their brief of requests, arguments and evidence (hereinafter “the brief of requests and arguments”).

19. On August 31, 2004, the State filed a brief with its preliminary objections, its answer to the application and its comments on the brief of requests and arguments. The preliminary objections raised by Colombia consisted of: 1) impairment of the State’s right to defend itself; and 2) failure to comply with the requirements for the exhaustion of domestic remedies.

20. On October 27, 2004, the Commission and the Representatives filed written arguments regarding the preliminary objections.

21. On February 1, 2005, the President issued an Order in which he required Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño, Yaqueline Reyes,1 Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes,
Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes, Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez- Peña, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano and María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez, witnesses proposed by the Representatives, to render testimony by affidavit. He also ordered Iván González Amado, expert witness proposed by the Representatives, to file his opinion by affidavit. Furthermore, in said Order, the President summoned the Inter- American Commission, the Representatives and the State to a public hearing which would be held at the seat of the Inter-American Court on March 19, 2005, to hear their closing oral arguments on the preliminary objections and possibly on the merits, reparations and indemnities in the instant case, as well as the witnesses and expert witnesses proposed by the Inter-American Commission and the Representatives (infra para. 27). By means of said Resolution, the President also informed the parties that they were entitled to submit their closing written arguments regarding preliminary objections and possibly regarding the merits, reparations and indemnities up to April 11, 2005.

22. On February 15, 2005, the Representatives filed the statements by Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño, Yaqueline Reyes, Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, Leydi
Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano. They also pointed out that the statements by Luisa Fernanda
Gutiérrez-Reyes and Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, on account of their status as minors, could not be taken under the form of an affidavit in view of the domestic
legislation regarding minors. Finally, they stated that, for reasons beyond their control, María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez and Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes could not render testimony. Nevertheless, on February 16, 2005, the Representatives submitted the statements by Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez and Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano.

23. On February 16, 2005, the State forwarded a copy of “the case file of theproceedings brought before the Criminal Military Court System against Colonel Luis
Gonzaga Enciso Baron for the crime of Bodily Injuries against Wilson Gutiérrez- Soler.”

24. On February 17, 2005, the Representatives filed the statement by Iván González Amado.

25. On March 4, 2005, the State submitted in writing its comments on the statements filed by the Representatives (supra paras. 22 and 24).

26. On March 9, 2005, the State filed a brief wherein it stated that:

The Republic of Colombia, in its capacity as State Party of, and in accordance with, the American Convention on Human Rights, considering the domestic proceedings and the facts stated in the application filed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and in compliance with its international obligations and its policy of promotion, protection and respect of human rights hereby expressly and publicly:

1. Withdraws the two preliminary objections raised by the State, which consist of impairment of the State’s right to defend itself and failure to comply with the requirements for the exhaustion of domestic remedies.

2. Acknowledges its international liability for the violation of Articles 5(1), (2) and (4); 7(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) and (6); 8(1) (2)(d) (2)(e) (2)(g) and (3) and 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights, in relation to the facts asserted in the application.

3. Derives said acknowledgment from the acts or omissions of certain government officials who, acted individually in breach of their legal duties.

4. Reaffirms as its State policy the promotion and protection of human rights and expresses its respect and consideration for the victim and his next of kin and asks
forgiveness for the occurrences.

5. Understands that this acknowledgment of liability is in itself an act of satisfaction towards the victim and his next of kin.

6. Requests to the Honorable Court that, would it be deemed appropriate, the State, the Representatives of the victim and his next of kin be granted the opportunity to reach, with facilitation by the Commission on Human Rights, a friendly settlement on reparations and indemnities, for which the State proposes a maximum delay of six months.

7. In the event the foregoing request is not granted, the State [p]rays to the Honorable Court that the foregoing acknowledgment of liability be taken into consideration and deemed effective to all legal purposes, so that action on the merits of the case be deemed concluded and the hearing be directed to discuss reparations and indemnities.

8. The State points out that this statement does not imply an estimation or assessment of individual criminal liabilities.

27. On March 10 and 11, 2005, the Court held a public hearing, at which there appeared: a) For the Inter-American Commission: Juan Pablo Albán, Counsel; Lilly Ching, Counsel; Verónica Gómez, Counsel; and Víctor H. Madrigal Borloz, Counsel;

b) For the Representatives: Viviana Krsticevic, Executive Director of the Centro por la Justicia y el Derecho Internacional (hereinafter “CEJIL”); Roxana Altholz,
attorney-at-law for CEJIL; Rafael Barrios, attorney-at-law for the Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (Lawyers’ Institutional Group “José Alvear Restrepo”); Eduardo Carreño, attorney-at-law for the Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (Lawyers’ Institutional Group “José Alvear Restrepo”); and Jomary Ortegón, attorney-at-law for the Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (Lawyers’ Institutional Group “José Alvear Restrepo”); and c) For the State: Julio Aníbal Riaño, Ambassador, Luz Marina Gil García, Counsel; Luis Alfonso Novoa, Deputy Counsel; Janneth Mabel Lozano Olave, Counsel; Dionisio Araujo, Counsel; Priscila Gutiérrez Cortés, Counsel; and Margarita Manjarrez Herrera, Counsel. Also present were Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, witness proposed by the Inter-American Commission and the Representatives; Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, witness proposed by the Representatives; María Cristina Nunes de Mendonça, expert witness proposed by the Inter-American Commission; and Ana Deutsch and Jaime Prieto, expert witnesses proposed by the Representatives.

28. During the public hearing, the State reiterated the statements contained in the brief dated March 9, 2005 (supra para. 26), to the effect that the State withdrew the preliminary objections it had raised and acknowledged its international liability in the instant case.

29. During the same public hearing, with respect to the acknowledgment of liability made by the State, the Commission stated that:

The Commission desires to greet and express its satisfaction to the Republic of Colombia for its having made public its acceptance of the claim against it and its acknowledgment of international liability for having violated the American Convention in relation to the facts asserted in the application filed in the instant case for illegal arrest, torture and violation of the right to fair trial of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler.

The Commission wishes to highlight, in particular, the words of the declaration that express respect and consideration for the victim and his next of kin and the gesture of contrition we have just witnessed, through which apologies are made to them in the name of the State, and received as a first step along the way to reparation of the damage caused.

The Commission understands that the points in fact and in law to be included in the judgment that this Honorable Court will hand down in the instant case will be an invaluable contribution towards achieving the purpose and aim of the American Convention and the Inter-American System.

Further, the Commission also heeds with satisfaction the proposal extended by the State to reach a friendly settlement regarding reparations.

The Commission understands this alternative procedure is of great importance for settling violation of human rights cases.

In accordance with its prior practice in this matter, the decision of the victim to get involved or not in a procedure of this kind hinges on many personal factors, with the extension of which the Commission does not claim to be acquainted. For this reason, the Commission will wait to hear the victim, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler, speak his will on this matter.

The Rapporteur of the Commission for matters related to Colombia and delegate in the instant case, Mrs. Susana Villarán, […] transmits to this hearing, to the parties and the to the Honorable Court her sincere expression of gratitude for the willingness evidenced by the Republic of Colombia to comply with its human rights obligations through this acceptance of the claim.

It is an act that, besides reinforcing the commitment evidenced to the Inter-American System, leads the way to reparation and eradication of violations of the American Convention consisting in inflicting torture on individuals in the custody of Government officials.

In the instant case, it is worth noting that the victim, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, has shown an unusual courage, for more than a decade, by reporting his case. With the gesture made today, the State has lived up to the challenge of acknowledging the crime and the denial of justice by apologizing to Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler and his next of kin, and by showing its commitment to redress in full the damage caused, both on individual terms and in such a way as to contribute in the constant endeavor of watching out for events of this nature not to happen again.

30. During the above mentioned public hearing, with respect to the acknowledgment of liability made by the State, the Representatives stated that: We hold the gesture just made by the State of Colombia, in publicly and fully accepting the facts and acknowledging the rights asserted in the application made by the Commission, to be a historical one. It is the first time we see the State of Colombia assuming such a position in a case on trial before the Inter-American System.

Not only is it extremely important for this case, after the eleven-year long fight against impunity borne by Wilson and Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, as pointed out by the Commission, but it also gives us hope that the State of Colombia will enter a new epoch in its policy toward the Inter-American System. Hence, we wish to express our full satisfaction and our special gratitude for the personal gesture by the Agents of the State, as well as for the efforts made by state officials to make this happen.

With regard to the friendly settlement, the instant case has a very particular background […]. We have been deploying our efforts to reach a friendly settlement for two years and, unfortunately, such efforts have not met with success. The victims have expressed that they are not ready, at present, to reopen this phase. We also trust that a judgment of the Inter-American Court on reparations establish a precedent on these matters, not only for Colombia, [but also] for the whole region.

31. On March 10, 2005, after the closing of the first stage of the public hearing, the Court issued an Order in which it decided to deem withdrawn all the preliminary objections raised by Colombia to admit the acknowledgement of international liability made by the State, and to continue holding the public hearing convened by the President’s Order dated February 1, 2005, and to restrict its subject-matter to reparations and indemnities (infra para. 50). In such public hearing The Court heard the statements by the witnesses and expert witnesses who had been summoned thereto (supra paras. 21 and 27, infra para. 42), as well as arguments by the Inter- American Commission and by the State.

32. On April 12, 2005, the State, the Commission and the Representatives submitted their closing written arguments.

33. On August 4, 2005, the Secretariat, in pursuance of instructions by the President, requested the State to furnish certain information as evidence to facilitate
adjudication of the case.

34. On August 30, 2005, the State submitted documentary evidence to facilitate adjudication of the case, in response to the written requirement addressed by the
President on August 4, 2005 (supra para. 33).

V PROVISIONAL MEASURES

35. On March 11, 2005, after hearing the statements by Wilson and Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler (infra para. 42), as well as the closing oral Argument by the Inter-
American Commission, by the Representatives and by the State, the Court decided to order that the State adopt provisional measures in order to protect the lives, the personal integrity and the personal liberty of several individuals.2

VI EVIDENCE

36. Before examining the evidence tendered the Court will state, in the light of the provisions set forth in Articles 44 and 45 of the Rules of Procedure, a number of
points arising from precedents established in the court itself, and applicable to the instant case.

37. Evidence is governed by the adversary principle, which embodies due respect for the parties’ right to defense. This principle underlies Article 44 of the Rules of Procedure, inasmuch as it refers to the time when evidence must be tendered, so that equality among the parties may prevail.3

38. In accordance with Court practice, at the beginning of each procedural stage, the parties must state, at the first opportunity granted them to do so in writing, the evidence they will tender. Furthermore, the Court or the President of the Court, exercising the discretionary authority under Article 45 of the Rules of Procedure, may ask the parties to supply additional items, as evidence to facilitate adjudication of the case, without thereby affording a fresh opportunity to expand or complement their arguments, unless by express leave of the Court.4

39. The Court has also pointed out before that, in taking and assessing evidence, the procedures observed before this Court are not subject to the same formalities as those required in domestic judicial actions and that admission of items into the body of evidence must be effected paying special attention to the circumstances of the specific case, and bearing in mind the limits set by respect for legal certainty and for the procedural equality of the parties. The Court has further taken into account international precedent, according to which international courts are deemed to have authority to appraise and assess evidence based on the rules of a reasonable credit and weight analysis, and has always avoided rigidly setting the quantum of evidence required to reach a decision. This criterion is valid with respect to international human rights courts, which enjoy ample authority to assess the evidence submitted to them bearing on the pertinent facts, in accordance with the rules of logic and based on experience.5

40. Based on the above, the Court will now examine and assess the body of evidence in the instant case, which includes documentary evidence submitted by the
Commission, by the Representatives and by the State, evidence requested by the Court or the President of the Court, on their own motion, to facilitate adjudication of the case, and testimonial and expert evidence rendered before the Court at the public hearing. In doing so, the Court will follow the rules of reasonable credit and weight analysis, within the applicable legal framework.

A) DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

41. The Representatives submitted witness statements and an expert report in accordance with the President’s Order dated February 1, 2005 (supra para. 21).
Said statements and opinion are summarized as follows:

STATEMENTS

a) Statement by Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño, Wilson Gutiérrez- Soler’s son

When he was a little boy, he lived in Colombia with his mother and grandmother and occasionally met with his father without understanding why they lived apart from each other. He has been recently revealed how much his father had suffered in Colombia. He misses his paternal aunts, uncles and cousins and has memoirs of his childhood. He has resided in the United States since he was seven years old. Between the ages of seven and twelve, he only saw his father once, in a trip to Bogotá. “It’s been very hard to live apart from my father, but after a couple of years I got accustomed to it.” A few years ago, his father moved to the United States and now he feels happy to live and share moments with him. The witness believes that if nothing had occurred to his father, he would have been living in Colombia with his family.

b) Statement by Yaqueline Reyes, Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler’s common-law spouse

Mrs. Yaqueline Reyes is the common-law spouse of one of Wilson Gutiérrez- Soler’s brothers, Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, with whom she has two daughters. The other members of her family have grown apart from them as a result of the attacks and outrages perpetrated by police officers and the army against them.

Mrs. Reyes states that she has recently acquainted with the fact that her brother-in-law, Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, was a torture victim and that she now understands why he is under so much pain, both physical and moral. What happened to Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, according to Mrs. Reyes, “affected [her] marriage,” because her common-law spouse Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler was continually helping his brother out so that he could file complaints before the authorities. However, nobody seemed to take notice of them. The consequences for the family were terrible because her common-law spouse was deeply involved in Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s case. She, her two daughters and her common-law spouse’s children fell victim to attacks and searches by police officers and the army. There were times when her common-law spouse and brother-in-law wore bulletproof vests in case they were attacked. This disturbed her daughters and her common-law spouse’s children. The troubles and expenses experienced and incurred by the family prevented her daughters from regular schooling because every now and then they had to move to a new house under constant threat to their lives. On one occasion, the individuals who were posing threats to them advised them “to
enjoy the little time left because soon we will all be finished” and, next, they asked about her common-law spouse and brother-in-law without even identifying themselves.

The Gutiérrez-Soler family was subject to physical abuse and moral harassment. On November 27, 2002, Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s parents found a bomb in their house. On May 17, 2003, Mrs. Reyes and her daughters received a book-like bomb that was timely disassembled by police officers and explosive detection agents. The police accused her common-law spouse, Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, of “having connections with the [Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia] or the [Ejército de Liberación Nacional].” On October 4, 2003, the police arrested Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler without any known reasons. During three hours, Mrs. Reyes ignored where the police had taken her common-law spouse. Sulma Tatiana and Leonardo, Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler’s children, were also harassed by police officers. This situation made the family grow apart little by little. Currently, some of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler’s children do not live with him because they refuse to live in fear and under constant threat.

For Mrs. Reyes, the events have been extremely disturbing and changed their lives because “everybody knows we live under continual threat and are regularly subject to searches. To cap it all, nobody employs Ricardo.” Although Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler no longer lives in Colombia, the situation is still difficult for the Gutiérrez-Reyes family.

She prays to the Court that “their human rights be recognized,” making all responsible individuals “pay for […] what they have done” to her family and to Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler. She urged on measures to prevent “cruel action[s] like the one[s] taken” and asked the State to instruct police officers and the army in human rights and, lastly, requested the Court to “help them recover from their great pain and distress.”

c) Statements by Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, daughter of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler and Yaqueline Reyes; Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, daughter of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler and Luz Marina Peña Torres; and Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano, children of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler and María Anatilde Rubiano Martínez

At present, witnesses Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes and Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano reside in Fusagasugá (Department of Cundinamarca) with their sister Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes, Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler and Yaqueline Reyes; witnesses Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano live in Bogotá apart from their family; and witness Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña lives with her mother and has never lived with her father Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler. The witnesses became acquainted with what had happened to their uncle Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler before they rendered statement.

Witnesses stated that the situation of their uncle Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler affected them both emotionally and economically because Wilson and Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler separated from the family, and the family broke up. As a result of the issues that Ricardo had to attend in relation to Wilson, he had no money left for his family, so his children begun having problems at school. Likewise, they mentioned the attempted book-like bomb attack at Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler’s house and police constant harassment on the family.

Furthermore, witness Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano asserted that individuals who were unfamiliar to him tried to kidnap him; and he even blamed his father Ricardo for all his problems. Witness Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano declared that on April 21, 2003 there was a search at her father’s workshop at Villavicencio Avenue during which her father and brother Leonardo were injured, as it happened in many other occasions. Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez- Reyes and Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano expressed that their sister Paula suffered great emotional distress as a result of the troublesome situation of her father Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler and that of her family, and has not spoken ever since.

To sum up, witnesses have lived in permanent fear, undergone family separation and economic difficulties as a consequence of the events related to the instant case and they hope the Court will help them solve the problems of the family.

EXPERT EVIDENCE

a) Expert report by Iván González-Amado, criminal attorney-atlaw

The expert witness explained that Colombian laws on criminal procedure provide for three main stages: preliminary investigation, pre-trial proceedings and trial. He also referred to the powers of the judicial police, which are exercised on a permanent basis by the National Police, the Technical Investigations Agency of the General Prosecutor’s Office and “the civil servants of prosecuting units and the Administrative Department of Security.” Colonel Luis Enciso Barón was barred under Section 103 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of 1991 “from processing the actions associated with the investigation of the crime of extortion reported by Ricardo Dalel Barón” because the Colonel is his cousin and, “therefore, he [has] an interest in the proceedings.”

Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler was not seized in flagrante delicto, but during an illegal police search. Failure to set an accurate and express term for Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s appearance before judicial authorities “adversely affected his rights, since it allowed judicial police officers to promptly carry out actions that ultimately impaired his rights.” Domestic legislation prohibits without exceptions that public officers exercise coercion on the accused. Gutiérrez-Soler’s version of the events “was not rendered freely and spontaneously,” since “he was tortured and […] the free and spontaneous statement was not given in agreement with legal rules in force.” Likewise, the change in the legal qualification from crime of torture to crime of bodily injuries does not conform to international legal standards related to torture, because according to said standards “the conduct is not assessed in line with the seriousness of the injuries inflicted upon the victim.”

The appointment of “an honorable person as [Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s technical counsel] was contrary to the rule of law,” for “the accused was arrested in Bogotá […] where he could have been aided by an attorney who may have acted as legal counsel.” Instead, the clergywoman who acted as counsel “failed to comply with counseling obligations” as she did not even “notice that the accused had been tortured before the examination,” which took place “after the accused was brought to jail and before he rendered statement.”

Article 192 of Law No. 906 of 2004 prescribes that acquittals may be reviewed if “after an acquittal is entered in a Court of law in cases of violation of human rights or serious infringement of international humanitarian laws, any international human rights review and control body, whose competence has been formally accepted by the State, finds that the State has failed to complied with its obligation to conduct a serious and impartial investigation of said violations.”

B) TESTIMONIAL AND EXPERT EVIDENCE

42. On March 10 and 11, 2005 the Court held in a public hearing to receive the statements of the witnesses and the expert witnesses proposed by the Inter-
American Commission and by the representatives. The court will now summarize the relevant parts of these statements and of the expert report.

TESTIMONY

a) Testimony by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, alleged victim

The witness, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, a Colombian national, currently lives in the United States of America.

At the time he was arrested, the witness drove a taxi, worked in judicial auctions, and was a mechanic. His automobile make reparations shop opened at 9 a.m. and closed at about 4 or 5 p.m. The income he derived from such activities allowed him to provide reasonably well for his family. His daily family routine was like that of any person “considered normal; a family with a wife and a child, and on weekends the theater or the movies.” The witness brought vehicles from Venezuela, for which reason he travelled a great deal; however, he was not separated or divorced from his wife. At the time the events took place, Wilson lived at his mother-in-law’s with his wife and his son Kevin. However, after the events, his wife and his son continued living at Wilson’s mother-in-law’s, but he himself moved to his parents’ house. Custody of Kevin was given to his mother “for many obvious reasons; whatever or whomever was close to me or on my side, was not going to be well, and the threats were directed at my family.”

After being seized in an illegal operation, he was prosecuted for extorsion, in a process that lasted 8 years, during which, according to Mr. Gutiérrez- Soler’s statement, his self-esteem and his private, professional and family life were impaired. “It tore my family apart, because they obviously no longer saw me as a decent person, but what this people wanted was to make me be seen as a criminal. It definitely did away with my life—and not only my own, but that of my son and that of my wife as well.”

In addition, as a result of the acts of torture, the life of the witness changed dramatically. “My family was lost; the father-to-son family bond was lost. Not only did they take away my own self-esteem, but they also took away my family and my parents.” Likewise, his brother Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, who has always supported him, also came to harm ever since he learned about the events. Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler cut himself off from his own family. “He is forced to live from place to place, he can’t have a permanent residence or work steadily.” The witness’ mother is living in a village under dire conditions.

The torture suffered by the witness is “something that is not at all easy to live with; more so that the way where they were inflicted on him made them leave lifelong traces, it is one of those parts of the body where one is reminded every day of what happened, so it’s not easy to live with that.” The witness felt he was under a duty to report his individual case of torture, as he knew that what had happened “was wrong”. Moreover, he entertained hopes that justice would be done, which for him it meant that: “any person who performs an act that harms another person just for the fun of it […] be prosecuted.”

The witness stated that, when the investigation of Colonel Enciso Barón and Mr. Ricardo Dalel, a civilian, were discontinued, he felt great anguish by the impunity existing in his case. Similarly, the witness was most outraged when the hypothesis that the injuries had been self-inflicted was advancede. He resolved to lodge a complaint with the Inter-American Commission and have his case referred to the Inter-American Court since in Colombia “there was no possibility of justice,” in spite of the fact that he had sought justice by every means allowed by the State. In his opinion, a judgment by the Court sets “a standard preventing this from happenning again; this sets a precedent that no person may be given inhumane treatment.” Moreover, the witness stated that, even though it is not easy for him to have private matters about himself disclosed in the court’s judgment, he consents to it if it will help prevent the same from happenning to other people. The witness pointed out that, as a consequence of having reported his torture — as they let him know that expressly —, his family — particularly his brother Ricardo, his parents and himself — were subjected to persecution, harassment, threats, phone calls, attacks with explosives, searches and/or imprisonment. These acts of harassment deeply affected the private and working life of the witness: “I was never able to work steadily, they never let fulfill myself as a normal person, since wherever I went, harassment came along with me.” Even his parents had to leave their home and belongings and do away with the very few possessions they had as a result of the continuous harassment they were subjected to. The witness’ father died “in the most extreme poverty that can exist in the world.” The witness does not know how the State could make reparations the damage he suffered or give him back his family, the 11 years of his life he lost and his relationship with his son — who was taken to the United States by his mother almost 7 years ago —, with whom he lost practically all contact, for he only spoke with him on the telephone occasionally. A few months ago, the witness finally regained custody of his son Kevin and now lives with him.

The witness fears for the lives of his family and of his brother. Harassment started almost 11 years ago and it has not yet ceased. Even after testifying before the Commission, he suffered an attack while staying with his parents. The precautionary measures ordered by the Commission have not produced any positive results.

b) Testimony by Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, brother to Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler

The witness is a Colombian national and comes from a family consisting of the mother and 7 children, 4 females and 3 males. Wilson is the youngest brother and Ricardo is the one in the middle. They have a very good relationship.

The witness learned what had happened to his brother Wilson a few days after his arrest. He found Wilson in a bad condition. Wilson told him he had been tortured and even showed him photographs of the torturing. Ricardo felt Wilson had done the right thing in reporting he had been tortured. The witness stated that ever since his brother Wilson left prison, both of them and his family have been harassed and received increasingly serious telephone threats, repeating the Spanish saying “kill the dog and it will be the end of rabies.” Ricardo and Wilson realized things were not right when they learned from the police that some vehicles that had been prowling around the make reparations shop, which supposedly belonged to private individuals, actually belonged to the “Dirección Central de Policía Judicial” (Central Bureau of the Judicial Police).

The witness pointed out that, as part of the harassment, he and his brother Wilson were accused of “stealing vehicles” and imprisoned. Their parents were planted a bomb, and one of their children suffered a kidnapping attempt. In addition, the witness received a bomb-book and “suffered several attacks.”

The witness, together with his brother Wilson, has filed complaints reporting the harassment, the searches and the telephone threats they have suffered. However, these complaints went unsuccessful. The lack of response from the courts has further undermined the witness’ safety. Moreover, the precautionary measures ordered by the Inter-American Commission have not been enforced. The witness finds that having to ask the Colombian State for protective measures has been cumbersome: “to me it’s embarrassing to have to turn to people I don’t know […]. But to be honest, it has been useless for me; I have been abandoned.” On one occasion, the State gave him money to leave town; however, he received none of the assistance for his little daughter he had been offered.

The witness never told his own family of the events that had befallen his brother Wilson, since he felt sorry for them. As he did not know the truth, his father started saying that Wilson and himself were involved in illegal situations. He feels very sad about the fact that his father died without knowing the truth. The witness neglected his family and abandoned his oldest children because of his attempts to do something with his brother Wilson about the problem.

The harassments, the searches and other events affected the witness and his family’s economic and personal situation. Firstly, his brother Wilson, who managed their business accounts “was so unfortunate as to be imprisoned,” which was a hard blow for the family. His parents assisted them as much as they were able, and in the end, two or three years ago, they preferred to sell their house and leave Bogotá. Secondly, the witness’ children did not complete their studies and he was not able to provide for them at all. Finally, as a result of all this, the witness has not been able to have a permanent residence where he can stay with his family, nor has he been able to work steadily. The shops he successively set up did not last more than two months.

The witness pointed out that, even though he fears for his safety for having appeared to the Court, he testified because he thinks what happened is not fair: “because it’s not fair that my youngest daughter [she can not speak], and that I have never been able to afford therapy. And the other one wants to study, and I can’t really take that right away from her — I must do something.”

Currently, his mother is managing his father’s estate, which consists of a farm and two cars.

EXPERT EVIDENCE

a) Expert report by Mrs. María Cristina Nunes de Mendonça, lecturer on Legal Medicine at the University of Coimbra, Portugal The expert witness pointed out that, as a result of his arrest, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez sustained physical injuries that can be grouped in two different kinds: genital injuries and anal injuries. The genital injuries may de described as second-degree burns caused by exposure to heat, specifically by contact with flames. Second-degree burns tipically involve the presence of blisters with liquids inside them and affect the deepest tissues in the skin. As for anal injuries, in the instant case they have been internal injuries in the rectum caused by the introduction of a hard object.

The physical sequels in the instant case would have had to be treated properly. Timely treatment was required so that the sequels would not be so evident. In the instant case, the sequels mentioned are permanent. Likewise, there are functional-sexual sequels, described in some of the reports, such as that of September 16, 1996 at the Colombian Forensic Medicine Nacional Institute and the urologic report made in 2000.

There is yet another set of sequels, namely psychological sequels, which are clearly set apart in three forensic psychiatry reports made by a group of psychiatrists and psychologists from the Colombian Forensic Medicine Nacional Institute. Three of the descriptions characterize a condition called “post-traumatic stress disorder”. The victim’s character, irritable behavior, a fobic and elusive attitude, and the irreversible nature of such characteristics, are the typical symptoms of such disorder.

The forensic medical examinations performed in the instant case have been incomplete. No photographic records of the injuries have been made, and they are extremely important. The examinations have been confined to an external, physical description of the anatomical areas. No examination was made of the anal anatomical injury, which is a very simple one. One of the reports is missing a detailed description of the injuries, which might condition its interpretation, attempt against its results and diminish the significance of these documents in these proceedings.

The victim did not receive regular and adequate medical treatment until his imprisonment on September 14, 1994, twenty-one days after the events. The victim does not seem to have received proper treatment, nor was he provided with basic means of personal hygiene so as to prevent the infection he subsequently came to suffer.

Protocols and standards have been established to improve the treatment for victims of aggressions like those in the instant case, as the ones in existence were deficient, not only in Latin-America but worldwide. The most widely used one is the Istanbul Protocol, which appeared in 1999 thanks to the cooperation of a group of entities, physicians and lawyers in order to establish treatment standards for this kind of victims, so that these items of evidence may be understood in the courts. The Protocol describes situations such as that suffered by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez, the manner in which the examinations have to be conducted, the manner in which the medical opinions should be drafted, and how the follow-up on the victim must be carried out. Had the Protocol been applied in the instant case, the result of the investigation would have been different, as it would have “made it easier to understand the agressions and the events.”

In the case of persons whose physical integrity has been damaged, the medical examination must be particularly careful of the victim, as “there is a standalone fear component” that might be harmful for them. The first thing the physician must do is to establish an empathy relation with the person being examined, so that “the individual feels at ease with the physician and is able to render an account of the events” without withholding certain details for fear of making them public. In such cases, the alleged agressors should not be present. In addition, “the physicians must not confine themselves to examining the anatomical regions [of which] the victim complains […;] but they must conduct a thorough examination, objectively supported by graphical records, especially photographs.”

In torture cases, the aggressor strives to inflict suffering on the victim in a manner that will not leave physical traces. The aggressor is aware that if he leaves traces it is easier to track him down. As regards the genital injuries sustained by Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler as a result of the burns, there are undoubted signs and they will remain for life. As to the matter of anal sexual abuse, often no physical external traces are left, as it occurred in the instant case.

The officials making arrests or who interact with those arrested should regularly undergo psychological or psychiatric examinations, as very often such officials have personalities that may turn them aggressive. In the instant case, there exists a psychiatric examination where one of the perpetrators is also examined, “from the reading of which some psychological traits within the profile of psychopathic pathology can be surmised.”

People who are under arrest should undergo regular physical examinations, and the physicians must not confine themselves to “the complaints made to him by the victim, as on many occasions the victims are not up to assessing the full context of their suffering.”

b) Expert report by psychologist Ana Deutsch

The expert witness stated, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler suffers from posttraumatic stress. Such diagnosis was made based on “the criteria established in the psychiatric diagnosis manual published by the American Psychiatry Association” in 1994. In order to arrive at such a diagnosis six criteria must be met: firstly, the person must have experienced a traumatic event which affected the individual, and to which the person reacted with horror and panic. The events suffered by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler satisfy this requirement. The second criterion is the upsetting recurrence of spontaneous flashbacks of the event that produce emotional suffering every time they happen. Such flashbacks may arise either while awake or while sleeping, or may be brought to mind by stimuli from the environment. Mr. Gutiérrez- Soler said that he had to fight back those memories which reoccur daily when he uses the toilet, when he sees the scars, when he hears someone
speak using strong tones or when he sees people fighting. “The rape profoundly affected his self-esteem, and his masculine dignity was hurt.” The third criterion is avoidance, which means that the person avoids exposure to situations that bring back the traumatic experience. Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler isolates himself socially in order to avoid being asked questions, since that would remind him of the reasons why he travelled to the United States. He has almost no relations with other Colombians there, as they make him feel uneasy and fearful that they might have some connection with the Government officials who caused him so many problems. The fourth criterion is the presence of symptoms of hyperarousal or exaggerated reactions to minimum stimuli and of irritability. Mr. Gutiérrez- Soler points out that he became very temperamental after having been tortured, and that that worsened some existing marital conflicts. At that time he was impatient and intolerant with his own son. Currently, he still has disturbances during sleep, difficulty to fall asleep and is startled out of his sleep by soft noises. The fifth criterion is that these symptoms last for over a month. Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler has had these symptoms for more than ten years and, even though they used to be more intense in the past, he still has them with varying intensity. Although his condition has improved in some aspects, he must anyway receive psychological treatment. The last criterion concerns impairment in the labor, learning and social areas. As regards work, he has mostly relied on the support of his family for years.

Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler shows other symptoms overlapping the post-traumatic stress diagnosis, which amount to a condition of depression, such as lack of energy, a pesimistic view of the world, a sad mood, reduced appetite and almost inexistent sexual desire. Moreover, impunity has intensified all the symptoms and the reactions Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler has had, and has reflected on his vision of justice.

As for Kevin Gutiérrez-Niño, the son of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, the expert witness pointed out that their relationship was practically inexistent up to just a few months ago, when Kevin moved in with his father. The father-son relationship was deeply affected, because Kevin only had his mother’s and her family’s version of the facts, according to which Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler was “irresponsible and did not fulfil his duties.” This severely affected Kevin’s self-esteem, as “he felt inferior for not having a normal father by his side and felt helpless to change things.” Both father and son are currently working on “recover a relationship that was almost inexistent.”

The expert witness states that Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, brother to Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, and his family were also affected by the events. Ricardo has seven children, and the events affected his family’s life. Two of his sons, who at the time the events took place were nine and thirteen 13 years old, cut themselves away from their family and went on their own prematurely, as soon as they turned fifteen and sixteen, for they felt emotionally abandoned by their father. As regards the financial aspect, there was a profound change in their lifestyle and their possibilities to continue attending school, which were reduced. Ricardo and his wife Yaqueline’s children, who remained within the family group, have suffered their share of all the harassment. They have lived for years trying to hide and escaping, something which generates instability and insecurity.

Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler’s teenage daughters have not lived the normal life of a girl because as a consequence of fear they are forced to stay at home. Ricardo did not have an explanation for his children because he did not even have one for himself. The children resented the evasive answers from their father. Owing to this, they started to develop their own explanations, which led them to distrust their father. When they learned what was really happenning, it was as if they had managed to put all the pieces of their lives’ puzzle together. Ricardo’s children also had symptoms consistent with the events they underwent, the aftermath of which depends to a large extent on the assistance they may receive in the future. These children wish to resume studies as their great life project. The children of Wilson and Ricardo have been affected in their transition between adolescence and adulthood. Carlos, one of them, shows signs of depression and has a negative sense of himself, which makes it necessary for him to use professional help. Forbidden to go out with other girls, Ricardo’s daughters feel they do not have a normal life. Leydi does not live with his father, but she has not been able to continue her studies, so she feels affected because her life project is not heading in the
direction she wishes.

Yaqueline stood by Ricardo’s side, suffering as much as him, like and echo of what he was going through. Presently, Yaqueline is deeply concerned about
the fact that her daughter Paula Camila, who is four years old, does not speak yet and urgently needs to start treatment. Yaqueline feels hopeless because this kind of treatment is expensive, and the longer it is put off the worse the condition might be getting. Early treatment can prevent pathological developments.

The fact that Wilson and Ricardo Gutiérrez have not wanted to disclose the events to their next of kin follows a pattern similar to that of other survivors of torture. Torture victims “feel ashamed to share it with everybody else […] this is a pattern undoubtedly found in 95% of torture survivors.” The fact of having been rapes also determined him to refuse to talk about the events, since “for a man, a sexual assault like that suffered by Wilson represents an attack to his dignity, to his masculinity.” Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez “lost his ability to fully enjoy his sex life, which for a man of his age is quite regrettable.” The apologies by the State is “a way to restore the social status they used to have and they want to have; it is a way to reinstate the parent’s authority over their children.” As for the use of the events of the instant case “as an example in the professional training given to forensic physicians, to police investigators and to court officials,” the victim has always expressed his desire to help prevent other people from going through the same thing as he did, for which reason it has an enormous emotional and moral value, and could be a psychologically restorative one as well. Action aimed at restoring the “family social, psychological and emotional functional levels they used to
have, and the possibility of carrying out their own life project, are of the very essence.” The reparations which may be ordered “will help greatly, but will not suffice; they need to work on their feelings internally.”

One appropriate measure would be to establish a psychological assessment plan for persons who have to deal with persons arrested or who are in charge of dealing with arrests.

c) Expert report by Mr. Jaime Prieto-Méndez, economist and human rights expert

The expert witness stressed how important the acknowledgement of its liability effected by the State before the Inter-American Court would be if it were made public to Colombian society, since not only would it represent a way of putting an end to an international dispute, but it would also be “a very instructive exercise for the benefit of Colombian institutions and society concerning the harm done to the victims and the harm done to the society by the equivocal behavior of State officials.”

It is also important that such public recognition imply the “acknowledgment of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s condition as the victim in the instant case and that reparations be provided for the harm done not only to his physical integrity, but also to his dignity, during this time, by the fact that his words, his testimony have been […] questioned, undermining his public credibility and honor.” Such circumstance would contribute to redressing the wrongs caused to other victims of torture or violations of human rights whose honor was slighted by casting doubts on their testimony.

One measure necessary for these events not to occur again is the reopening of disciplinary and criminal investigations intituted against the parties responsible, applying the decision in judgment C-004 of 2003, issued by the Colombian Constitutional Court, which allowed the review of orders precluding or ceasing procedures and of acquittals in cases of serious human rights violations. In addition, the Colombian authorities must make a commitment to “tighten and implement the existing controls in relation with the circumstances and with the conditions in which persons deprived of liberty are kept while in prison or in provisional arrest centers.” Such controls are the responsibility of the authorities charged with enforcing the laws, such as the arresting authorities or the Ombudsman, and the General Prosecutor. It is important that the domestic laws forbidding solitary confinement be strictly applied. There must be a close vigilance of the time periods for which persons are held by the arresting authorities and surrendered to the power of the courts, since, even though the law establishes short periods, these are
often extended without any reason, which may lead to coercion or torture against the persons arrested. Similarly, victims must be given access to lawers, to controlling authorities and to their next of kin with the purpose of preventing the personal integrity of the persons arrested from being affected.

The State must take into account the recommendations of the Inter- American Commission with regard to the absolute prohibition against “persons deprived of liberty being subjected to questioning by the arresting authorities in provisional arrest centers without the presence of a judge.” It is important that the prohibition against persons arrested being questioned without a lawyer being present be rigourously applied. Medical examinations established by the Colombian laws to be conducted upon entry into and release from arrest centers must be carried out rigourously, avoiding relying on good treatment certificates as a means of vouching that the person has not been subjected to coercion or torture.

It is also essential that the decision in judgment C-358 of 1997 issued by the Colombian Constitutional Court be fully enforced. Such judgment establishes that “military or judicial criminal jurisdiction, which pursuant to the Constitution shelters police and military authorities in criminal cases, cannot be extended to cases involving human rights violations.” Even though as a result of said judgment of the Constitutional Court “a considerable number of […] investigations of human rights violations have been removed from the military criminal courts to the ordinary courts,” there are still opinions in favor of these cases being heard by the military courts.

The expert witness held that it is necessary to prevent the victims from being disparaged because of any kind of prejudice, including the prejudice that the victim is a criminal, casting doubts on their testimony and giving credit to the authorities eventually being investigated. In this regard, it is necessary to give adequate instruction to the officials responsible for judicial and disciplinary investigations, concerning the fact that, in cases of torture, the victims cannot be treated as if they were criminals, and their testimony must be taken into consideration.

C) EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

Documentary Evidence Assessment

43. In the instant case, as in others,6 the Court recognizes the evidentiary value of the documents submitted by the parties at the appropriate procedural moment or as evidence to facilitate the adjudication of the case pursuant to Article 45 of the Rules of Procedure, which have not been disputed nor challenged, and whose
authenticity has not been questioned.

44. The Court finds helpful for the adjudication of the instant case the copy of “the entire record of the case instituted in the Military Criminal Courts against
Colonel Luis Gonzaga Enciso Baron, charged with criminal assault and battery against Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler,” which has been forwarded by the State on
February 16, 2005 (supra para. 23), as it was not disputed or challenged, nor was its authenticity or truthfulness questioned. The file is thus incorporated to the body of evidence pursuant to Article 45.1 of the Rules of Procedure.7

45. As for sworn statements not effected before a public official whose acts command full faith and credit by witnesses Yaqueline Reyes, Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano, as well as by expert witness Iván González Amado, all of whom were proposed by the representatives (supra paras. 22 and 24), the Court admits them inasmuch as they are in accordance with the object set forth by the Order issued by the President on February 1, 2005 and assesses them as a whole with the the rest of the body of evidence, applying thereto the standards of reasonable credit and weight analysis, and taking into account the points made by the State. The Court on other occasions has admitted sworn statements not effected before a public official with authority to confer full faith and credit to the acts passed before him provided that legal certainty and the procedural equality between the parties are not impaired.8 As this Court has established, the statements of the alleged victims and their next of kin may provide useful information about the alleged violations and their consequences.9 In addition, the Court recognizes that, for reasons beyond their control, the representatives were not able to submit the statements of María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez and Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes (supra para. 22).

46. The Court considers helpful for the adjudication of the instant case the documents submitted by the parties in their final written pleadings, inasmuch as they were not specifically disputed or challenged, nor was their authenticity or truthfulness questioned, thus preserving the right to an adversary procedure. Therefore, they are incorporated into the body of evidence pursuant to Article 45(1) of the Rules of Procedure.10

Testimonial and Expert Evidence Assessment

47. As regards the statements made by the witnesses and the expert witnesses proposed by the Inter-American Commission and by the representatives in the
instant case (supra para. 42), the Court admits them inasmuch as they be in accordance with the purpose of the interrogatory established by the Court in its Order of March 10, 2005, and recognizes their evidentiary value, taking into account the observations filed by the State. In that regard, the Court will take into consideration such statements as a whole with the rest of the evidence produced by the parties. This Court considers that the statements by Wilson and Ricardo
Gutiérrez-Soler cannot be assessed separately, for they are an alleged victim and his brother, both with an interest in the outcome of the instant case, but they must
be assessed as a whole with the rest of the evidence within the body of the evidence in the case.

VII PROVEN FACTS

48. With respect with the acknowledgment of liability by the State, and taking into account the body of evidence in the instant case, the Court finds the following facts to be proven:

Arrest and torture of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler

48(1) In the afternoon of Agust 24, 1994, National Police Colonel Luis Gonzaga Enciso-Barón, Commander of a city brigade of the National Anti-Extortion and
Kidnapping Unit (hereinafter, the “UNASE”) of the National Police, and his cousin, ex-Lieutenant Colonel Ricardo Dalel-Barón, made themselves present at carrera 13 and calle 63, city of Bogotá, where they had arranged to meet with Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler. Mssrs. Enciso-Barón and Dalel-Barón arrested him and took him to the basement of the UNASE facilities.11

48(2) Once in the basement, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler was hand-cuffed to the taps of a water tank and tortured and subjected to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment, consisting of burns in his genitalia and other serious injuries.

48(3) Three hours after being tortured, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler was interviewed by officers of the Permanent Human Rights Office, who told him that to save his life he must answer yes to every question he was asked. Therefore, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler was coerced into making an “ad lib” statement about the events for which he was arrested.

48(4) Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler had no legal representative or public counsel present when he made his statement. To make up for the absence of counsel, members of
the law enforcement force requested the presence of a nun to appear together with Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler in the abovementioned procedure. The State made no effort to contact a lawyer who could act as counsel, even though the UNASE’s facilities are located in a downtown area of Colombia’s capital city. Physical and psychological sequels suffered by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler as a consequence of the events of August 24, 1994

48(5) The harm done by the abovementioned burns was established by a forensic physician from the Colombian Forensic Medicine Nacional Institute, who examined Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler on that same August 24, 1994 at 11.45 p.m. and set on record that he had serveral injuries. On August 25, 1994, the Regional Prosecutor of the “UNASE Urbano” checked Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler’s physical condition and also set on record such injuries. Likewise, medical certificates dated November 28, 2000 and December 14 of that same year issued by an urologist attest the persistence of the physical harm done.12 Finally, the torture caused Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler to suffer permanent psychic disturbances that were assessed during the expert’s examination carried out on August 8, 1996 by the Forensic Psychology and Psychiatry Group of the Bogotá Regional Unit.13

Proceedings carried out after the events occurred on August 24, 1994

48(6) On August 25, 1994, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler reported, before the Regional Delegation of the Public Prosecution Office, the tortures he had suffered the day
before. On August 26, 1994, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler filed a complaint against Mr. Dalel Barón and Colonel Enciso Barón before a counsellor of the the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights Staff. As a result of said complaints, parallel proceedings were commenced within the ordinary jurisdiction against Mr. Dalel Barón, and within the military criminal and disciplinary jurisdictions against Colonel Enciso Barón.

48(7) On February 7, 1995, the Military Criminal Examining Judge Nº 51 commenced proceedings for assault and battery against Colonel Luis Gonzaga Enciso Barón. Subsequently, the investigation was referred to the Office of Judge Advocate N° 60 , where it was decided to closing all proceedings against the above
accused, on the grounds that “the allegations of Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler, besides not being confirmed by any form of evidence, appearing as meritless, being contradictory [...] said allegations do not deserve a iota of not credibility, since they are infested with specious, biased, malicious, slanderous, and base, conceived by his sick mind, arising from his characteristic mythomania. Witnesses of this kind must necessarily be suspect and be subjected to a greater control by the examining judge and the trial judge, since they are tainted with immorality.”14 On September 30, 1998, the Superior Military Court confirmed the termination of the proceedings.

48(8) On June 7, 1995, on the basis of the complaint filed by Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler, the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights considered that there were enough merits to file charges against Colonel Enciso Barón before the disciplinary jurisdiction. However, the General Prosecutor’s Office closed the case applying the double jeopardy principle in view of the decision made on February 27, 1995 by the Judicial Police Director, whereby Colonel Enciso Barón had been exonerated from any disciplinary liability.

48(9) On August 29, 1995, criminal proceedings were commenced against Mr. Dalel Barón. However, On January 15, 1998, the General Prosecutor’s Office decided to preclude the investigation and to order the closing of the records, since “the testimonies of both the police officers and of those persons that, in some way (family or labor environment) were related to the accused, are of those classified by legal experts as ‘questionable testimonies’, since their credibility is undermined.”15 On June 8, 1999, the Appellate Court of the Judicial District of Bogotá confirmed such decision. Afterwards, the Constitutional Court decided not to exercise its discretionary powers to review a petition for protective remedies filed by Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler.

48(10) Up to this date, no person has been punished for the false arrest of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and for the tortures that he suffered.

48(11) On the grounds of the statement made on August 24, 1994 by Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler, which was obtained under torture, proceedings were commenced
against him, for the crime of extortion, by the then so called Regional Justice on September 2, 1994, and an order for him to be held in custody was issued. On
January 20, 1995, the Special Prosecutor before the Appellate Court decided to revoke the said order, and to direct his release from custody, since the complaint
against Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler was “infested with contradictions” and “could not be evaluated by the reasonable credit and weight analysis standards and even less, be given any credibility.”16 On May 6, 1999, an accusation was formally issued against Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler, but the warrant for his arrest was revoked after an appeal lodged by his defense.

48(12) Finally, on August 26, 2002, after eight years from his initial arrest, Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler was acquitted for the crime of extortion by a decision of the Eighth
Special Criminal Circuit Court of Bogotá. According to such decision, there was no certainty as regards the criminal liability of Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler because “the Police report number 1762 dated August 25, 1994, signed by Colonel Luis Gonzaga Enciso, [...] by means of which Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, allegedly arrested in fraganti extortion, was placed at the disposal of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office, can in no way be considered as [evidence] enough to hold [the above said Mr. Gutiérrez- Soler] liable as the perpetrator of a punishable act. This being so, since, on the one hand the person who personally appeared at the operation was Colonel Luis Gonzaga Enciso, a cousin of the informant [Ricardo Dalel], a fact which, to begin with, may show a certain tendency to favor the interests of his next of kin, in view of the fact that it is most rare that officers of such a rank be present in this kind of operations.” Furthermore, the court also held that “the arrest in itself is questionable since it lead to the possible torture of the subject by the said officer in the presence of the informant, causing the subject to be laid up for 18 days, due to burns in his genitalia, according to the report issued by the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences [...] In the light of the reasonable credit and weight analysis standards, [the aforesaid circumstances] allow the court to consider that this arrest should not be given much value.”17

The situation of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and his next of kin after the events occurred on August 24, 1994

48(13) The next of kin of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler mentioned in the different submissions before the court are as follows: his son, Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño;
his parents, María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez and Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández (deceased); his brother, Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler; his brother’s common-law spouse,
Yaqueline Reyes; and his nieces and nephews Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes, Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez- Peña, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano. Mr. Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández died in October 2004.18

48(14) Due to the complaints made by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, his next of kin and himself have been subjected to threats, harassment, surveillance, arrests,
searches and attempts against their lives and against their personal integrity, which have not been properly investigated. As a result of that situation, Mr. Wilson
Gutiérrez-Soler and his son Kevin have had to go into exile and they currently reside in the United States of America.19

48(15) Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler’s family still live in Colombia. However, in view of the constant persecutions mentioned, aggravated by the support that Ricardo always provided to his brother Wilson in relation to his several complaints, the family had to split and move.20

48(16) This campaign of threats, harassment and aggressions – which started in 1994 and has not finished yet – has endangered the life and personal integrity of
Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and several of his next of kin, and has deeply affected their family life as a whole. Consequently, they have suffered constant fear and
psychological damage.21

48(17) Both Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and his brother Ricardo ran their own businesses and earned enough money to keep their respective families. However,
the events were most detrimental for Messrs. Wilson and Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, due to their reduced chances to work and see to the financial stability of their
families. Likewise, the lack of economic resources furthered broke apart their families separation and dramatically limited educational possibilities for their children.22

48(18) Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and his next of kin have been represented by CEJIL (Center for Justice and International Law) and by the Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (Lawyers’ Group “José Alvear Restrepo”), in the domestic proceedings as well as before the Commission and the Court; therefore, both organizations have incurred in a number of expenses related to such proceedings.23

VIII THE MERITS OF THE CASE

Considerations of the Court

49. Article 53(2) of the Court’s Rules of Procedure sets forth the following:

If the respondent informs the Court of its acquiescence to the claims of the party that has brought the case as well as the to claims of the representatives of the alleged victims, their next of kin or representatives, the Court, after hearing the opinions of the other parties to the case whether such acquiescence and its juridical effects are acceptable. In that event, the Court shall determine the appropriate reparations and indemnities.

50. The Order issued by the Court on March 10, 2005, in its preliminary section pointed out the following:

1. That the State [...] withdrew all the preliminary objections stated in the answer to the application dated August 31, 2004.

2. That the State [...]acknowledged the facts and its international liability for the violation of Articles 5(1), 5(2) and 5(4); 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 7(4), 7(5) and 7(6); 8(1), 8(2)(d), 8(2)(e), 8(2)(g) and 8(3) and 25 of the American Convention on Human Rights.

3. That said acknowledgement made by the State [...] does not interrupt the procedures aimed at receiving the evidence ordered to be produced on the matter of reparations and indemnities, notwithstanding which the Court may decide on the merits of the case and on the request made by the State for time period during which to attempt reaching a friendly settlement on the matter of the said indemnities

Subsequently, the Court made the following decisions:

1. To admit the withdrawal of all the preliminary objections filed by the State.
2. To admit the acknowledgement of its international liability made by the State within the scope of the first and second paragraphs of the considerations contained in the [...] Order of the Court.
3. That there is no longer a dispute as to the facts and therefore, the Court would render, in due time, judgment on the merits of the case.
4. To continue holding the public hearing convened under the Order of the President of the Court dated February 1, 2005, and to restrict its subjectmatter to reparations and indemnities in the instant case […].

51. The Court considers the facts stated in paragraph 48 of this Judgment to have been proved and on the basis of such proven facts, and having weighed the
circumstances of the case, the Court proceeds to specify the different violations of the Articles mentioned it has found.

52. Firstly, as Colombia acknowledged, this Court considers that the State internationally liable for the violation of the rights embodied in Articles 5(1), 5(2) and 5(4); 7(1), 7(2), 7(3), 7(4), 7(5) and 7(6); 8(1), 8(2)(d), 8(2)(e), 8(2)(g) and 8(3) and 25 of the American Convention, regarding Article 1(1) of the same, against Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler. As to his arrest, the Court considers that it was made without a warrant issued by a judge having jurisdiction to do so and under circumstances that do not qualify as flagrancy.

53. The aforesaid notwithstanding, the Court acknowledges that there still is a dispute as to other violations alleged in the instant case. In that sense, the representatives alleged that the State also failed to comply with the obligations set forth in Articles 1, 6 and 8 of the Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture24 (hereinafter “Inter-American Convention against Torture”), even though the Inter-American Commission did not file any allegations in that respect. It it is now well established by the Court that the representatives may argue violations of the Convention other than those alleged by the Commission, as long as such legal arguments are based upon the facts set out in the application.25 Petitioners are the persons entitled to the rights protected by the Convention; therefore, restricting their possibility to submit their own allegations of fact would amount to an undue restriction of their right to justice which derives from their legal standing as Subjects of International Human Rights Law.26

54. The Court considers that, in the light of the general obligation of the State Parties to respect and guarantee the rights of all persons subject to its jurisdiction,
contained in Article 1(1) of the American Convention, the State has the obligation to commence immediately an effective investigation that may allow the identification, the trial and the punishment of those liable, whenever there is an accusation or well-grounded reason to believe that an act of torture has been committed in violation of Article 5 of the American Convention. Furthermore, this action is specifically regulated in Articles 1, 6 and 8 of the Inter-American Convention against Torture, which Articles bind the State Parties to take all steps that may be effective to prevent and punish all acts of torture within the scope of their jurisdiction, as well as to guarantee that all torture cases be examined impartially.27 In the instant case, the Court finds that Colombia did not abide by these provisions, since, to this date, no person has been punished for the tortures inflicted on Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and the State itself has recognized the existence of shortcomings in judicial guarantees of due process of law its internal proceedings (supra paras. 26, 28 and 48(10)). From the moment the said Inter-American Convention against Torture became effective in Colombia on February 18, 1999, the State is bound to comply with the obligations set forth in such treaty. Therefore, in the opinion of this Court, such conduct is considered a failure to comply with the obligations stated in Articles 1, 6 and 8 of the Inter-American Convention against Torture, as regards the duty to prevent and punish torture domestically.

55. On the other hand, the representatives further alleged that the State violated the right to humane treatment, set forth in Article 5 of the American Convention, to the detriment of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s next of kin; the Commission did not submit any allegations in that respect.

56. Article 5(1) of the American Convention sets forth that: “Every person has the right to have his physical, mental, and moral integrity respected.” In the context
of the instant case, it has been proven that Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and his next of kin have been subjected to a campaign of threats, harassment, surveillance,
arrests, searches and attempts against their lives and their physical integrity (supra para. 48(14)). As declared by Mrs. Yaqueline Reyes, the consequences of such
persecutions were “terrible” for the family:

This is very hard for me. It has changed our lives; we cannot even go out to go to the store in peace for fear that someone would try to hurt us. We have to stay
indoors, [...], move from house to house, be under stress [...] be always looking back. When Wilson left the country, I thought “Wilson is the one with the problems, not us”. But I was wrong, because the situation continued, because Wilson left but his brother [Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler], who had always gone
everywhere with him, stayed behind and they knew him, they went on and harassing and threatening him. [...] Therefore, it is terrible for us because now we are the ones with the problem. [...]

57. Consequently, due their having suffered constant fear, distress and family separation (supra para. 48(14) to 48(17)), the Court concludes that the next of kin
of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler – that is to say, Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño, María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez, Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández (deceased), Ricardo
Gutiérrez-Soler, Yaqueline Reyes, Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes, Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano – have undergone such suffering as would amount to a violation of Article 5(1) of the American Convention, in relation to Article 1(1) of such treaty, to their detriment, by the State,.

58. As regards the determination of those next of kin of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez- Soler that have suffered a violation to their right to humane treatment, this Court
acknowledges that in the pleading of petitions and allegations, the representatives mentioned other persons in addition to the next of kin mentioned in the application, to wit: Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano, all of them children of Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler. In that respect, it is noticed by this Court that the State has objected to these persons being beneficiaries of a reparation, given the fact that they were not mentioned in the application. Furthermore, in their final arguments, the representatives only requested “that the children [of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler] which the State recognized as victims be compensated [for moral damage]”, thus excluding the four persons mentioned above. In spite of the aforesaid, the Court has determined – on the basis of the affidavits of the incumbent next of kin (supra para. 41) and of the whole body of evidence in the case – that these persons have also suffered the same detriment to their mental and moral integrity as the next of kin of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, who were duly listed in the application. Therefore, the Court considers that the formerly mentioned are also victims of the violation of Article 5(1) of the American Convention, in relation to Article 1(1) of said treaty.

59. Finally, the Court considers that the acknowledgment of international liability made by the State constitutes a very important step in the development of this
proceedings and a step towards the enforcement of the principles consecrated in the American Convention. The Court particularly appreciates the manner in which the State made such acknowledgment at the public hearing in these proceedings, that is to say, through an act requesting forgiveness, personally addressed to Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and his next of kin. This, according to the statement made by the State, contributes to the “dignification of the victim and of his next of kin.”

60. By reason of the foregoing, and pursuant to the Order of the Court of March 10, 2005, and considering the statements made by the representatives rejecting the proposal by the State to try and reach a friendly settlement regarding the reparations and costs and expenses of this action (supra para. 30), the Court shall
proceed to determine them.

IX REPARATIONS
APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 63(1) OF THE AMERICAN CONVENTION

Obligation to Repair

61. This Court has determined that it is a principle of International law that all violations of an international obligation which cause damage must be adequately make reparations.28 In its decisions in that respect, the Court based on Article 63.1 of the American Convention that states the following:

If the Court finds that there has been a violation of a right or freedom protected by this Convention, the Court shall rule that the party harmed be ensured the enjoyment of his right or freedom that was violated. It shall also rule, if appropriate, that the consequences of the measure or situation that constituted the breach of such right or freedom be remedied and that fair compensation be paid to the party harmed.

62. Section 63(1) of the American Convention codifies a rule of custom which is one of the fundamental principles of contemporary International Law regarding the responsibility of States. Upon the occurrence of an internationally wrongful act attributable to a State, the international liability of such State arises, with the
consequent duty to make reparations and to have the consequences of the violation remedied.29

63. The reparation of the damage caused by the infringement of an international obligation requires, whenever possible, full restitution (restitutio in integrum), which
consists of the return to the state of affairs prior to the infringement. If this is not feasible, as it happens in the majority of cases – the instant case among others-,
the International Court shall determine the measures to be ordered to protect the rights that were affected, as well as to make reparations the consequences the
infringements brought about and shall determine a compensation for the damage caused.30 It is necessary to add the positive measures that the State must adopt to prevent repetition of the harmgul events such as those that occurred in the instant case.31 It is a principle of general International Law that the obligation to repair cannot be modified or unfulfilled by the State alleging its domestic laws, a principle constantly applied in the precedents of this Court.

64. Reparations are measures tending to eliminate the effects of the violations committed. Their nature and amount depend on the characteristics of the violation
and on both the pecuniary and non-pecuniary damage caused. Such reparations shall not result in the victims or their successors becoming richer or poorer and the same shall bear relation to the violations declared in the Judgment.32
*
* *
A) BENEFICIARIES

65. The Court shall summarize now the Argument by the Inter-American Commission, the Representatives and the State, regarding the determination of
those persons entitled to be considered beneficiaries of the reparations that the Court may order.

Argument by the Commission

66. The Commission alleged that the beneficiaries of the reparations are the following, to wit: Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, as the victim, and his next of kin: Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño (son); María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez (mother); Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández (father); Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler (brother); Yaqueline Reyes
(sister-in-law, wife of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler); Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes (niece, daughter of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler); Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes (niece, daughter of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler) and Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano (nephew, son of Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler).

Argument by the Representatives

67. The representatives considered that the beneficiaries of the reparations are those persons that have been directly affected by the violations in point, and that in
the instant case, the persons harmed are: Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño (Wilson’s son), Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler (Wilson’s brother), Yaqueline Reyes (Ricardo’s wife); Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, Paula Camila Gutiérrez- Reyes, Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez- Rubiano (children of Ricardo); Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández and María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez (parents of Wilson and Ricardo).

Argument by the State

68. The State alleged the following:

a) according to the terms of the application filed by the Commission, the victim of the violations acknowledged by the State of Colombia is Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler; and

b) pursuant to the application filed by the Commission, the beneficiaries of the possible reparations to be ordered by the Court or that may be friendly settled by the parties are: Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez; María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez; Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández; Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler; Yaqueline Reyes; Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes; Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes and Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano.

Considerations of the Court

69. The Court considers that Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler is a “party harmed”, as a victim of the violations hereinbefore stated (supra paras. 52 and 54). Likewise, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s next of kin – that is to say, Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño, María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez, Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández (deceased), Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, Yaqueline Reyes, Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, Paula Camila Gutiérrez-Reyes, Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez-Rubiano and Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez-Rubiano – are victims of the violation of the right recognized by Article 5(1) of the American Convention, in relation to Article 1(1) of the same Convention (supra para. 57). Therefore, said next of kin shall also be beneficiaries of the reparations ordered by this Court.

70. The compensation that the Court may order shall be delivered to each beneficiary in his or her capacity as a victim. In case any of the victims is dead, as the case of Mr. Álvaro Gutiérrez-Hernández, or if a victim dies before the respective compensation is delivered, the amount that would correspond to such person shall be distributed according to the applicable domestic legislation.

B) PECUNIARY DAMAGE

Argument by the Commission

71. As regards pecuniary damage, the Commission pointed out the following:

a) Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and his next of kin had to deploy very significant financial efforts in order to seek justice and to afford the psychological treatments necessary to withstand the consequences derived from the serious violations suffered;

b) due to their suffering, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and his next of kin could not go on with the normal course of their trade and work, which produced a considerable reduction of their customary earnings, necessary for their maintenance;

c) the life project of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and that of his family were destroyed by the impunity of those responsible and by the lack of reparation; and

d) the compensation for actual and consequential damages, including loss of profits should be equitably fixed.

Argument by the Representatives

72. In turn, Representatives stated the following as regards pecuniary damage:

a) for almost ten years, the Gutiérrez-Soler family have been subject to harassment, threats, surveillance, arrests, searches and attacks that forced them to radically change their lifestyle and which brought about serious economic consequences, as well as physical and psychological suffering. In this sense, the Gutiérrez-Soler family have incurred in expenses to move house, to change their work, to receive specialized medical attention and have sustained the loss of assets, including businesses, cars and plots of land. The Gutiérrez-Soler family have made “uncountable” efforts to survive, moving from one place to another or going ininto exile;

b) at the moment the tortures occurred, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s business was to buy and sell vehicles, and also personal and real property acquired at court-ordered auctions. In addition, he drove a taxi owned by himself, thus benefiting both from an additional income and the possibility of driving over to his business activities;

c) when Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler was arrested, he was driving a goldcolored QP Chevrolet Chevette, which he lost on that day and found it impossible to recover;

d) due to the criminal investigation for extortion against Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, the Gutiérrez-Soler family were forced to sell some of the vehicles to cover the fees charged by their first attorney;

e) The family received financial support from the Corporación Colectivo de Abogados “José Alvear Restrepo” (Lawyers’ Group “José Alvear Restrepo”), and the money was principally applied to cover the expenses related to the departure of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler from the country and was also applied to investigation activities and to “expedite the judicial proceedings;”

f) the Court is requested to grant, on equitable grounds, the amount of US $30,000 (thirty thousand United States Dollars) for each family as actual damages; and

g) Wilson, Ricardo and their father, Álvaro, were substantially limited in their working capacity as a consequence of the constant harassment they had to endure. Therefore, the Court is requested to grant an equitable amount to compensate such persons for their loss of income.

Argument by the State

73. As regards the pecuniary damage, the State made the following submission, to wit:

a) in the instant case, the estate has not been evidenced by documents under seal or any other means of evidence, and therefore, the Court may not determine accurately the amount of the possible damages suffered. Furthermore, some items of evidence are defective in that they contradict others in many aspects;

b) No documentary or testimonial evidence have been produced regarding the change of residence, work, nor evidencing the specialized medical attention received, the loss of property –including businesses, vehicles and real estate- nor the expenses incurred to seek justice by the Gutiérrez-Soler family; and

c) It has not been proved that Messrs. Wilson and Ricardo Gutiérrez- Soler and their father, Mr. Álvaro Gutiérrez, suffered a substantial detriment in their working capacity due to the constant harassment they endured. However, the State in good faith accepts, in view of the weakness of the evidence submitted by the party having the burden of proof, the existence of a minimum damage that must be compensated as loss of profit. The aforesaid, on the basis of the principle according to which every working activity has a minimum vital and adjustable remuneration, which is proportional to the amount and quality of the work performed. The compensation has to be granted on the basis of the legal minimum salary in force in Colombia and not on an equitable basis as claimed by the
Commission and the Representatives. On the basis of the legal minimum salary in force in Colombia, and applying financial formulae recognized in the Colombian precedents, the State figures out the total loss of profit sustained by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler amounts to 136,305,374.46 Colombian Pesos.

Considerations of the Court

74. The Court shall herein address the pecuniary damage, which implies the loss of, or detriment to, the income of the victim, the expenses incurred due to the
events and the pecuniary consequences that may have a cause-effect link with the events in the instant case,33 for which, if applicable, the Court fixes a compensatory amount seeking to redress the economic consequences of the violations that were determined in this Judgment. In order to make a decision as to the pecuniary damage, the Court shall take into account the body of evidence, its own precedents and the arguments submitted by the parties.

a) Loss of Income

75. Firstly, the Court is pleased to notice that the State has shown it wants to compensate the loss of income suffered by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler as a
consequence of the events in the instant case. In that sense, it has been proved that, at the moment of his illegal arrest and torture, Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler was
self-employed in his own businesses and earned enough money to keep his family (supra para. 48(18)). Likewise, it has been proved that, as a consequence of having reported he had been tortured, subsequent harassment and persecutions prevented Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler from finding a stable working position and was eventually forced into exile (supra paras. 48(14) and 48(17)).

76. This Court notices that the evidence on the records of the case is not adequate to determine with accuracy the income of Mr. Gutiérrez-Soler at the moment the events occurred. In that respect, and considering the activities whereby the victim used to earn his living, and the circumstances of the case, the Court fixes on equitable grounds the amount of US $ 60,000.00 (sixty thousand United States Dollars) to be received by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler as compensation for the loss of income. Said amount must be delivered to Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler as established in paragraph 70 of this order.

b) Pecuniary damages sustained by the Family

77. It is considered proved (supra paras. 48(14), 48(15), and 48(16)) that the campaign of threats, harassment and aggressions not only forced Mr. Wilson
Gutiérrez-Soler to flee from Colombia, but also affected deeply the safety of his next of kin. For example: a) his parents suffered threats and a bomb was planted in their home, and thereby they were forced to leave Bogotá; b) Wilson’s brother, Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, received a book bomb at his home and suffered several searches and harassment at his workplace; and c) unknown persons attempted to abduct one of the children of Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler. These difficult circumstances have forced the family of Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler to move house several times and have rendered it impossible for Ricardo to find continuous work and to provide for his family (supra para. 48(17)). Due to the aforesaid, some of the children of Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler have been separated from the family and are suffering financial hardship, having scant possibilities of continuing their studies or following a course of studies of their choice (supra paras. 48(16) and 48(17)).

78. The Court notices that, though there is not enough evidence to estimate the amount of the loss, it is evident that going into exile, constantly moving house, changing work, as well as the other consequences arising out of the serious instability to which the Gutiérrez-Soler family has been subjected since 1994, have had an adverse impact on their family estate.34 Since such alterations directly derive from the events of the case –i.e. they occurred due to the reports made of the acts of torture suffered by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, and to the subsequent harassment and aggressions suffered by his relatives – this Court considers appropriate, on equitable grounds, to order the State, to pay compensation for family pecuniary damages in the amount of US $75,000.00 (seventy-five thousand United States Dollars). Such amount shall be paid as follows: US $30,000.00 (thirty thousand United States Dollars) to Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler, US $30,000.00 (thirty thousand United States Dollars) to Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler and US $15,000.00 (fifteen thousand United States Dollars) to Mrs. María Elena Soler de Gutiérrez, as established in paragraph 70 of this Judgment.

C) NON PECUNIARY DAMAGE

Argument by the Commission


79. The Commission contended that:

a) Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s medical and psychiatric examinations prove that he suffered and continues suffering from severe physical and psychological consequences of the tortures inflicted on him during his false arrest;

b) repetitive, public questioning of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s credibility, character and the motives leading him to report facts, arising from the way national courts handled the case, resulted in depression and symptoms of phobia; distorting his motivation and cognition, and aggravating the psychological damage resulting from the events of August 24, 1994;

c) violations of the rights of Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s family have caused them pain and suffering. The arrest and the events that followed it caused them suffering and anguish, which were worsened by persistent impunity, as well as by the risky position and the harrassment Wilson’s parents and his brother were made to suffer; and

d) in view of the most serious circumstances of the case, the intense pain inflicted and the alterations of the conditions in which the victims and their next of kin lived, the Commission requests said persons be paid, on equitable grounds, compensation for non pecuniary damages.

Argument by the representatives

80. The representatives argued that:

a) Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler’s moral damage results from the violation of his right to humane treatment, by inflicting on him moral, physical, and psychological pain. Almost ten years after the fact, he still suffers the physical and psychological sequels thereof. His illegal and false arrest, the lack of investigation and the lack of punishment of those who tortured him, and the biased trial against him when he was charged with extortion, contributed to his further pain and suffering. Lastly, he also was caused moral damage by having been subjected to the threats, the harassment, the search of his place of residence, the constant phone calls and the attack, all of which have resulted in his going into exile;

b) forensic physicians in the service of the very same State have verified the severe consequences of the torture inflicted;

c) Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez-Niño was separated from his father at an early age. In a six-year period, Kevin saw his father but once. In addition, his wife and son’s prolonged exile forced Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler to seek legal separation from his wife three years ago, so his family bonds were broken apart. On account of the foregoing, the State has to acknowledge the damage stated above and pay Wilson and Kevin a fair compensation, exemplary to underscore the seriousness of torture, of the fact that those responsible for it are still unpunished and of its moral sequels of torture;

d) on account of the seriousness of the events in the instant case, compensations to Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler and Kevin Daniel Gutiérrez- Niño, his son, be compensated with $ 100,000.00 (one hundred thousand United States dollars), and $ 50,000.00 (fifty thousand United States dollars), respectively;

e) the tortures inflicted on Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler also deeply affected his parents and Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler. Furthermore, they were threatened, harassed, followed, searched, and were attacked on numerous occasions. Ricardo’s wife and children have also been vicitms of several threatening events. None of such acts of aggression has been followed by identification, prosecution or punishment of any of the perpetrators;

f) the constant threats and aggressions have had serious consequences on Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler, his family and his parent. They were forced to change their place of residence several times. In addition, all members of the family have suffered feelings of anguish, impotence and uncertainty on account of the constant threats;

g) Ricardo Gutiérrez has suffered unfair arrest, personal injuries and continuous harassment and other outrages. When his minor children witnessed how the police mistreated him, both them children and his common-law spouse suffered from depression and insomnia. Likewise, Paula, his daughter, has suffered from trauma, has problems to speak and shows symptoms of aggression. Ricardo Gutiérrea-Soler’s two other children suffer from constant anguish and fear. On account of the foregoing, it is requested that Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler be compensated in the amount of $50,000.00 (fifty thousand United States dollars). Likewise, it is requested that Mr. Ricardo Gutiérrez-Soler’s children, namely Carlos Andrés Gutiérrez- Rubiano, Ricardo Alberto Gutiérrez, Sulma Tatiana Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Leydi Caterin Gutiérrez-Peña, Leonardo Gutiérrez-Rubiano, Paula Camila Gutiérrez- Reyes, and Luisa Fernanda Gutiérrez-Reyes, be compensated in the amount
of $20,000.00 (twenty thousand United States Dollars) each; and

h) the parents of the Gutiérrez-Soler brothers, have also been threatened. They have lost their property and were forced to leave their residence. Bearing in mind the seriousness of these facts, Álvaro Gutiérrez and María Elena Soler must be compensated in the amount of $50,000.00 (fifty thousand United States dollars) each.

Argument by the State

81. The State argued that

a) evidence of non-pecuniary damage by the party alleging it is as needed as that of pecuniary damage. However, pursuant to the Court’s precedents, these are presumed in view of the circumstances of the case; and

b) it requests its acknowledgement of liability be considered as reparation of the non pecuniary damages inasmuch as it contributes to “the dignification of Wilson Gutiérrez and [that] of his next of kin.”

Considerations of the Court

82. Non pecuniary damage may include distress, suffering, tampering with the victim’s core values, and changes of a non pecuniary nature in the person’s everyday life. As it is impossible to assess the value of the non pecuniary damage sustained in a precise equivalent in money, for the purposes of full reparation to the victims it may be effected in one of two ways. On the one hand, by paying the victim an amount of money or by delivering property or services the worth of which may be established in money, as the Court may determine exercising reasonably its judicial discretion and applying equitable standards; and on the other hand by public actions or works the effect of which, among others, be to acknowledge the victim’s dignity and to avoid new violations of human rights.35

83. The judgment, according to repeated international precedents, constitutes, in and of itself, a form of reparation.36 However, owing to the circumstances of the
instant case, the suffering the events have cause the victims, the changes in their way of living and the other consequences of a non pecuniary nature they bore, the
Court considers that it is meet, on equitable grounds, to pay compensation for non pecuniary damage.

84. Bearing in mind the various aspects of the damage the Commission and the representatives allege, the Court determines, on equitable grounds, the value of
compensation for the non pecuniary damage according to the following standars:

a) in order to determine the compensation for the non pecuniary damage suffered by Mr. Wilson Gutiérrez-Soler the Court takes into account, inter alia, that: i) he was arbitrarily arrested, subjected to torture which caused him injuries in very intimate parts of his body; ii) doubts were cast on his character, and on the motives that led him to report the events, during the eight years the proceedings against him for the crime of extortion lasted, wherein he was acquitted in 2002; iii) he suffered a campaign including harassment, aggressions and threats, as a result of which campaign he was forced to flee the country and he has remained abroad to date; iv) as a result of the aforementioned events his family broke apart and he almost lost his relationship with his son Kevin; v) those responsible for torturing him and for the ensuing persecutions are still unpunished; and vi) all the above has produced physical and psychological sequels that have affected all the aspects of his life;

b) in order to determine the compensation due Álvaro Gutiérrez- Hernández and Maria Elena Soler de Gutiérrez, parents of Wilson Gutiérrez-